Those of you who are Facebook friends already know this, but because many of you aren't, and many of you know and love my Dad (Bob DeWaay) I've decided to share a quick health update here.
-He was recently hospitalized with a hemoglobin count of only 4. He has had multiple blood transfusions, a bone marrow biopsy and a lung biopsy.
-He has been diagnosed with Churg-Strauss syndrome. It is
very rare and he is in the last stage of it (Vasculitic stage).
-It has affected his lungs, heart, kidneys, and bone marrow.
-He has fluid in his lungs and on his heart (congestive
heart failure)
-His bone marrow is not producing any red blood cells.
-If he is not making red blood cells after 30 days they will
do another, more extensive, lung biopsy.
-We don’t know if the damage is permanent.
-He is home now and being treated as an outpatient with
blood tests on Mondays and Thursday and infusions (if needed) on Tuesdays and
Fridays.
-All of this is being treated by high doses of Prednisone.
If that doesn’t work they will try another immune-suppressive drug.
That is all we know right now. Please pray that he would respond to the treatment and begin producing red blood cells and, above all, that God will be glorified through all of this.
Psalm 121
A Song of Ascents.
I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.
December 2012 Update
January 9 2013 Update
January 25 2013 Update
March 7, 2013 Update
March 22, 2013 Update
April 17 2013 Update
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteWe have never met, but I have to let you know that your father is in my and my family's prayers. This past January I was fortunate enough to come across the CIC site and spent the next six months absorbing his insightful teaching, both written and recorded. It has been eye-opening, life-changing and so timely for myself and several members of my extended family that I just can't fully express what your father's work has meant. Please pass along our somewhat anonymous yet very heartfelt well wishes to your dad.
God Bless,
Penny
Penny,
DeleteThank you so much for your kind words. I will pass this along to him.
So sad to hear this! He has been such a blessing and encouragement to us. 'Hope that our gratitude and prayers are a comfort to him!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your prayers!
DeleteDear Jessica,
ReplyDeleteWill definitely be lifting your dad up in prayer. Please let your father know that he was one reason I became interested in apologetics. The articles and reviews that he has written over the years are very insightful and honoring to the Lord.
Blessings, charisse graves
Thank you, Charisse. Your care and concern is a blessing to us.
DeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteYour dad's writings have been such an important part in our family learning true Christianity.
It's an honor to pray for him, you, and your family.
Sincerely,
Mary
Kansas City
Thank you, Mary. We are so thankful for your prayers. I'm sharing all of these comments with him and it has been a great encouragement.
DeleteThank you for the update sis. We continue to pray for Bob and also for the family. May the Lord hold you all tight in His grip, in these trying times. From across the ocean know that you are all loved by us here in South Africa. Lord be with you and also with the doctors treating you dad.
ReplyDeleteLove in Christ from across the big wide ocean.
Elmarie & Grant Swart
Thank you Grant and Elmarie. We are all so thankful for your love and concern.
DeleteI too have have only encountered CIC Ministries in this last year and I have been very blessed by many of the articles and videos and books that your father diligently put together. Through the ministry, your father has also encouraged me much (when I have none in my hometown to help me understand the Bible without appealing to my subjective experiences) and I have developed a much greater appetite and respect for the Word of God.
ReplyDeleteI'll be keeping your father and family in my prayers!
God bless~
Jon Munson
Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement. It means a lot to all of us.
DeleteI am an older Pastor, Earl Little, from Texas. I have talked to your Dad a few times and communjcated by email encouraging him to write. His books and articles and radio messages have SO BLESSED so many of us!! Tell him I love him and regularly pray for him. OH How WE NEED HIM TO GET WELL AND CONTINUE TO WRITE.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pastor. I shared this with him and he was happy to hear from you and grateful for your prayers.
DeleteDear Jessica and family,
ReplyDeleteI am very grateful for your father and grateful to the LORD for the work that God has done through him. I have learned a lot from his discernment articles and his books. I have also learned so much from Pastor Gary Gilley and Pastor John MacArthur. I am very thankful for faithful men of God, past and present, who have taught His truth. It is heart breaking to see so many churches deceived and fallen away, following after false teachings and promoting false teachers. And so many have their eyes closed and do not want to hear the truth according to God's Word.
May our heavenly Father give you the grace you need to go through this trial and bring glory to Him. I have been praying for you and will continue to do so.
with love in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,
Katharine Boren
Thank you, Katharine. I will pass this along to him.
DeleteJessica, I am so sorry for you poor daddy in all of his afflictions. I know this is incredibly hard on your mom and all of you as well. May God surround all of you with his strength and comfort.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane.
DeleteNumbers 6
ReplyDelete24The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
With Love, Thoughts and Shalom
From Malaysia
Julian
Thank you, Julian. That is one of our favorite benedictions.
DeleteHello Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI didn't know your Dad was this sick. I have added him to my prayer jounal. I have been so wrapped up in my own health issues I haven't been visiting blogs lately. I hope you are well and strength to you during this time.
Blessings,
Suzanne
Thank you so much, Suzanne. I will be praying for you, too.
Delete